Tufting machine



Sept. 5, 1939. R. H. BRADWELL TUFTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept 5, 1939- l R. H, BRADwELL- 2,171,825

TUFTING MACHINE Filed Ocrl'.. 20, 1956 5 Sheets-SheeI 2 Sp- 5, 1939. "R, H. BRADWELL y 2171825 TUFTING MACHINE- Filed oct. 2o, 193'6 5 sheets-sheet s Sept. 5,- 1939. n. H. BRADwl-:LL

TUFTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 R. H. BRADWELL 2,171,825

TUFTING MACHINE Sept. 5, 1939.

Filed Oct. 20, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gmc/wkn,

Patented Sept; 5, 19.39 A I r UNITED 4STATES PATENT oi-ric'l:v

Robert n. Braaweu, Sumter. s. c., signer to Polly Prcntiss, Inc., Sumter, 8. C., a corporation of South Carolina Application october zo, 193s, serial No. 106,661 Q 12 claims. (ci. 11a-'19) My invention relates to a method of and mahead 23. The usual head plate 23 is provided, chine for producing spaced tufts, or spaced groups in VFigure 2. The stock 2l is mounted upon the of tufts on fabric. flat base 24.` The head 23'is provided with the An important object of the invention is to prousual vertical reciprocating needle bar 25, car- 5 vide a machine of the above mentioned character rying a needle 26, which is rigidly clamped therefor producing the spaced tufts or the spaced to, for permanent movement therewith. This groups of tufts from a continuous yarn, and reneedle has the usual eye for receiving the tuftmoving, during the feeding movement of the ing thread or yarn 2l. The tufting thread is work, cut portions of the yarn, whereby the passed through guides 23 and a suitable tension l spaced tufts or spaced groups of tufts are not device, not shown, such as the tension device 28 10 connected and the removal of the connecting in my said pending application. The tension deloops after the tufting operation is eliminated. vice isV so adjusted that it places the thread or,

A further object of the invention .is to provide yarn under very slight tension, just enough to a machine of the above mentioned character prevent improper feeding of the thread. 'I'he l which will separate the yarn from the leading tufting yarn is fed from the usual cone spool. l5 tuft or group of tufts before the next trailing The machine embodies the usual driving shaft tuft or group of tufts is produced and will sub- 30, driven by a grooved pulley 3| ,of the like. At sequently separate the yarn from the trailing its forward end, the drive shaft 30 is provided tuft or group of tufts. with a crank disk 32 rigidly secured thereto, and

A further object ofthe invention is to provide having pivotal connection with' a link 33.- 'I'his 20 a machine which will not carry the yarn across link 33 is pivotally connected with` a sleeve 34. the fabric betweenthe spaced tufts or group of The sleeve 34 is a part of the original sewing matufts, but moves the yarn laterally with respect to chine. This sleeve is" ordinarily clamped t0 the the line of the feed of the work so that the yarn needle bar 25, to reciprocate it, by means of a is not carried on the fabric between the spaced set screw. In accordance with my invention, 25 tufts or groups of tufts. this set screw is removed and the sleeve 34 there- Other objects and advantages of the invention fOle iS Slldeblyy mounted upon the needle bal 25. will be apparent during the course of the folloW- This Sleeve iS Capable 0f raising the needle bal'. ing description. but the needle bar may be held in the raised po- In the accompanying drawings forming a. part sition when the sleeve 34 is lowered, as will be 30 of this application and in which like numerals -elilleilfled-A Arranged abOVe the Sleeve 34 iS a are employed to designate like parts throughout ring 35, rigidly clamped t0 the needle bal. and

the same: this ring is engaged by a compressible coil spring Figure 1 isa'side eivaticn of the head end of a 36, surrounding the needle bar. engaging the 35 machine embodying my invention, ring 35 and the end wall 31 of the head 23, as 35 Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same, ShOWn'. The spring 36 serves tol move the needle Figure 31s a perspective view of the operating bar downwardly While the sleeve 34 raises the parts of the machine, Y needle bar upwardly, but the needle bar is per- Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the manently slidable within the sleeve 34. yarn clamp and associated elements, The machine embodies a presser-foot 38, car- 40 Figure 5 is a similar view of the hook and asried by a block or sleeve 39', which is rectangusociated elements, and, lar in cross-section. This sleeve is rigidly clamped Figures 1a to 19eme-diagrammatic views showto a reciprocatery pressure bar-39 by set screws ing the mode of operation of the needle and the Wer the like. 'I'he presser bar may be raised by ya rn clamp.

AIn the drawings, wherein for the purpose of meanS- illustration is shown a preferred emlomnmgnt.01l The sewing machine further comprises the my invention, the numeral 20 designates a. sewing work feeding means, to advance the work in a line machine, as a Whole, of any well known or pre- .of work from the operator, in a stitch-by-stitch ferred type, such as of the Singer sewing mamanner, including dOgS 4l, Operating through a 50 chine, as shown in my Patent 2,038,923, or my suitable opening in the base plate 24, and these pending application for Method of land machine dogs are rigidly mounted upon a rigid dog supfor producing spaced groups of tufts on fabric, Dort link 01 bal' 42- All one end' the link 42 Serial Number 83,400, led' June 3, 1936. This is rigidly connected with 'a head 4 3, pivotally conmachine comprises a stock 2|, an arm 22, and a nected at 4l with generally vertical cranks 45, 55

a finger engaging lever 40 or any other suitable 45 in .turn rigidly. mounted upon a rock shaft 46 extending longitudinally of and vbeneath the basel 24, and held by suitable stationary bearings. At its opposite end, the link 42 is provided with a fork 41, receiving a roller 46, pivotally mounted upon a generally horizontal crank, 46, in turn rigidly mounted upon a rock shaft 56. This rock shaft is arranged beneath the base 24 and extends longitudinally thereof in spaced parallel relation to the rock shaft 46 and is supported by stationary bearings. These rock shafts are driven from the drive shaft 30, by the usual drive means 46'.,

When the link 42 is moved longitudinally in a forwardfeeding direction, crank 46 raises the same to feed the fabric and when the link 42 is 7 moved rearwardly in a longitudinal direction,

crank 46 lowers the link 42, thus releasing the work so that it is held in the new position by the presser foot. The foregoing description of the feed mechanism is that of the ordinary sewing machine, such as a Singer sewing machine as shown in my Patent 2,038,923.

Means are provided to hold or lock the needle bar in the raised position, comprising a horizontal shaft 5I, one end of which is journalled in a stationary bearing 52 and its opposite end.

in a bearing 53, carried by a stationary arm 64, suitably clampedto the stock 2|. `The' drive shaft 60 is equipped with a small gear 51, rigidly mounted thereon, engaging a larger gear 56, in turn rotatablymounted upon a stub shaft 56, supported by the arm 54. Preferably formed integral with the large gear 56, for rotation therewith, is a small gear 66,l engaging a larger gear 6I., rigidly mounted upon the shaft 6I. The gear ratio. between the shafts 66 and 5| is preferably such that the shaft 5I is turned for one complete revolution when the'shaft 66 has made 14 complete revolutions. Of course the invention is not necessarily restricted to this gear ratio.

Rigidly connected with the forward end of the "shaft 6| is a mutilated disk or element 62, which has a circularly curved edge 66, extending throughout 9/14 of the circle, vthe cut away portion representing the remaining 5/14 portion of the complete circle. The circularly curved portion 63 extends from the point 64 to the point 65. The disk 62 includes a hook portion 66, having a generally circularly extending recess 64'. From the point 64, the disk 62 has a straight generally radial shoulder 61. Adapted to coact with the disk 62 is a roller 66, rotatably mounted upon a block 66 which is rigidly clamped to the upper portion of the needle bar 25, and this block operates within a stationary vertical guide 16. It might be stated at this point that when the roller 66 engages the circularly curved face 66 of the disk 62 that the needle bar is held or locked in the raised position, and when the roller trips off of the point 64, the needle bar isfree to reciprocate for its entire stroke, until again picked up by the point 66 of lthe hook 66. The recess 64' `is provided so that the roller 66 may move therein during the reciprocation of the needle bar, so thatthe reciprocating movement will not be interfered with until lthe point- 65 `picks up the .roller 66. The downward'movement of the needle bar is limited by the' position ofthe sleeve 64 and end of the lever 16' and the lower end of the guide 16. The disk 62 turns in the direction of thearrow and when point 66 reaches the raised position, roller 66 is elevated, so that point 66 passes beneath the'roilcr.

Means are arranged 'beneath the base 24 for coaction with the needle, for holding and cutting the loops to produce the tufts. 'I'his means comprises a stationary arm or bracket 1 I, upon which is suitably pivoted/at 12, a vertically swinging arm 16 arranged to swing parallel with the feeding movement of the work. This arm is arranged near and upon one side of the needle, and carries a generally horizontal hook 14, rigidly connected therewith. This hook has a downturned bill 15', and the hook moves across the path of travel of the needle, upon one side of the needle, to enter theformed loops, and to hold -the loop against upward movement when the needle rises. The hook 14 is directly mounted upon a head or plate 15, which is rigidly attached to the swinging arm 16. A vertically movable reciprocatory blade' 16 is slidably mounted within aV groove 11, formed in the head 15, and this blade has an inclined cutting edge 16 at its top to coact with the longitudinal edge of the hook 14, to cut the loop or loops accumulated' thereon. The arrangement and operation of the blade and hook are somewhat similar to the corresponding arrangement in my Patent 2,038,923. When the needle descends and at about tbetime the same starts to rise, the hook moves forward to enter the loop. \When the needle'rises, the hook moves rearwardly, and the blade 16 rises to cut the loop. The blade 16 is so adjusted that the last loop remains unsevered on the hook, when the needle rises. The operating means for the blade comprises a lever 16', having a forked end which straddles the swinging Varm 13, and is pivoted thereto at 16. The sides 66 of the forked lever are in turn forked to provide notches 6I, receiving rollers 62, pivoted upon. the lower end of the reciprocating blade 16. The lever 16 is bentor extended downwardly and its free end 16 engages a stiif leaf spring 66, which is attached to the arm 16, at 64. The spring 66 acts upon the lever 16 to raise its free end, whereby its forked end is moved downwardly and in an opposite direction to raise the blade, by a crank 65, depending from the rock shaft 46, and

engaging .a relatively large flat head 66, carried by a bolt 61 adjustably mounted upon the free adapted to be locked in adjustment by a nut 66. The pivoted l'arm 16 carries a roller 66, operatingwithin a fork 60, depending from and rigidly secured tothe dog carrying link 42. The pivoted arm 16 is swung by the movement' of the link 42, although it may be swung'byother means. Y

A yarn clamping or holding device 6I is provided, which is preferably arranged upon the leading side of the needle and is mounted upon the block 66'. This yarn clamping or holding device comprises a bell crank lever 62, including an upper horizontal arm 66, and a lower vertical arm 64. The bell crank lever is pivoted a t 65, to the bl 66. The bell crank lever is pivoted to swing in' a vertical plane transversely of the line of feed of the work. Rigidly secured to the lower end of the arm 64 and preferably formed integral therewith is a jaw 66, having an extension or tail 61. This tail is tapered toward its free end' remote from the face 66 of the jaw. The tapering is effected upon the trailing side 66 of the tail, and the lower edge or surface of the jaw and the tail are circularly curved so that such with a generally verticaly arm |03.

surface or edge is concentric with the pivot 99 of the arm 94. The jaw and tall are arranged to move above the presser-foot 33 and operate within a recess thereof. The jaw 96 is provided upon its face 98 and near its trailing side with a pin |0|, preferably formed integral thereyarn being pulled from between the faces |04 and 98 if the faces do not have clamping engage,

ment with the yarn, which would occur before the clamping device had moved laterally and outwardly to any considerable extent. The arm |03 is pivoted at its upper end to the. block 39' by means of a screw or pivot element |06, and this pivot is near the pivot 96, and the pivot |06 is beneath the horizontal arm 93, as shown. They arm |03 is provided nearrand spaced from its pivot |05 with a lateral extension |06, rigidly secured thereto andthis extension is engaged by a spring |01, attached to the block 39'. The spring |01 thus swings the arm |03 downwardly and inwardly toward the arm 94. 'Ihe extension |06 is disposed upon one edge of the block4 39 and projects beyond the opposite side thereof, to coact with a swinging latch |08, pivoted upon the block 39 at |09. The latch |08 is swung up- Wardly by a spring IIO, also attached to the block 39'. 'Ihe latch |08 has an inclined face and@l shoulder ||2. When the arm |03 is swung laterally and outwardly withrespect to the line of feed of the work, extension |06 engages the inclined face and-depresses the -latch |08 until the extension trips oi of the inclined face and engages behind the shoulder ||2. The arm |03 will then be held in the shifted or open position untilthe latch |08 is depressed so that the extension |06 may clear the shoulder H2. In order that the'latch may be depressed it is providedewith an Aextension I I3, at its free end, to which is rigidly attached a rod ||4, arranged beneath the horizontal arm 93, tobe engaged and depressed thereby. The exten- Y sion |06 engages the adjacent edge of the block 39' to limit the inward movement of the arm |03, and the block 39 is provided with a guide extension I|5, extending laterally beyond the line of feed of the work and slidably engaging the jaw |02 as it moves laterally and outwardly with respect to the line of work. The presser-foot 36 is provided with a guard H6, arranged upon the opposite side of the needle with respect to the jaw 96 and is spaced from the needle but extends slightly beyond the needle in the line of feed of the work. The forward end of this guard is in substantial transverse alignment with the trailing edge of the engaging face 98 and the base of the tapered pin |0i. 'Ihe function of providing the tapered tail 91 for the jaw 96 is to prevent the jaw being caught in the yarn when the jaw is moving inwardly upon its return movement and to guide the yarn to the-base of the pin |0| and at the Sametime hold the yarn taut. The function of the guard ||6 is to engage with the section of the yarn which has been separated from both the leading and trailing groups of tufts and shifted laterally outwardly of this The trailingedge of the jaw ported by a stationary bracket |21.

guard and thereby prevent this removed section of yarn improperly returning to a position upon the inner side of the guard, in close proximity to the needle where it might interfere with the operation of the needle and associated ele ments or become sewed to the fabric. It is thus seen that the jaw |02 is retained in close proximity to the jaw 96 by the spring |01, and when the jaw 96 .is swung laterally and outwardly beyond the line of feed of the work, the jaw 96 will carry the jaw |02 with it, and the spring |01 will then have its tension increased and the two jaws will securely clamp the yarn between them.

When vthe clamping device has been shifted to the outermost position, the jaw |02 will be latched in the outer position, hence separated from the jaw 96 when the jaw 06 again moves transversely of the line'of work to the inner position. r The outer jaw |02 will be subsequently released and its spring will then throw it to the inner position in close relation to the jaw 96.

Means are provided to swing the bell crank lever 92 and the jaw 96 carried thereby, comprising a link H1, pivotally connected with the arm 93 at H3, Thelink |1 is longitudinally adjustably connected with a coupling ||9 and this coupling is pivotally mounted upon the free end of diameter of the eccentric l 26 is substantially horizontally arranged when the edge 61 of the cam 62 is generally vertical, and the maximum diameter of the eccentric |26 extends in an opposite direction to the circularly curved face 63 of the cam 62. y

'I'he numeral |26 designates a suction pipe, sup- 'I'he intake end of the suction pipe |26 is arranged near and spaced from the bed plate 24, and will instantly .suck up and remove the cut sections of yarn,

when pulled from the fabric and releasedby the holding means. This prevents the accumulation of these cut sections on the surface of the fabric.

The operations of the apparatus is as follows: The needle bar controls disk 62 is regarded as having its periphery divided into 14 equal parts. Nine of these equal parts constitute the curved edge 63, while the remaining live of these'equal parts extend between the points 64 and 65, about the recessor passage 64'. are being produced, the roller 69 is operating within the recess 64'. 'I'he needle Acompletes a cycle of operation for each of the equal circumferential spaces of the needle bar control disk or element 62, and hence the needle makes five complete cycles of operationr during the loop sewing period after the roller 68 slips oi of the point 64 Whenthe loops |28 and beforagit is again held up by thepoint 65.15

This will produce four complete loops |26, in each with the last loop remaining unsevered in accordance with the operation set forth in my copending application Serial Number 83,400, flied June 3, 1936, and my Patent 2,038,923. When the trailing end of the group of tufts is reached, and

upon the next cycle of operation of the shaft III, and the next feeding movement ofthe work for a stitch, the last loop is cut, while the needle-bar is retained elevated. Theshaft and block 34 make nine cycles of operation while the needle bar. isheld elevated, and hence there will be a nine stitch distance between the groups of tufts.

'I'he operation of the, machine will be best understood from a, consideration of- Figures 1* to 1,7! inclusive. It being assumed that a group of tuftschave been formed and the work has been advanced by 14 stitches, the next trailing group of tufts is about to be started, Figure 1*. Before the next trailing group of tufts is started, the yarn in the needle has been Apulled out of the fabric'and separated from the leading groups of tufts and there is no long stitch or loop which connects two of the groups of tufts at any one time. The first cycle of operation in producing the next trailing group of tufts is about to start in Figure-1*. The roller 68 -has just cleared the shoulder 6l, and the needle is ready to descend. At this time the jaw |02 is adjacent to the jaw 96 and the yarn is being held between these Jawsthe closed jaws being now in the normal starting position, and not shifted laterally asa unit. YIn Figure 2* the down stroke of the first cycle is made and the needle passes through the fabric to produce the loop which is caught on the hook 14, and

in Figure 3a the up stroke of the needle is made andthe first cycle of operation of the needle is completed. Starting with Figure 1a it will be seen that the maximum diameter of the clamp shifting cam, eccentric', or element |25 is horizontally arranged, while this maximum diameter moves upwardly, as indicated in Figures 21- and 3, withtheresult that the closed yarn engaging clamp is gradually swinging laterally, in an outward and upward`direction. In Figure 4* the needle moves upon its `down stroke, and in Figure 5* it has moved upon its up stroke, completing the second cycle of operation. At this time the ilrst loop produced has been severed in succession, with thelast loop remaining unsevered until the trailing end of the group is reached and the work advanced for another stitch, at which time the last: loop is severed. In Figure 6* the needle makes its down stroke and in Figure 7* its up stroke, to complete its third cycle of operation. in Figure 8* the needle makes its down stroke and in Figure 11* its up stroke to complete itsefifth cycle of operation, after which it is held in the raised position by the needle bar holding disk or element 62 and the spacing cycles occur, as will be explained. While the needle was making its sewing cycles, the yarn clamp controlling cam or element |25 has its maximum diameter turning upwardly, as stated in connection with Figures 1* and 3* and this movement continues to about Figure 8*, when this maximum diameter is at substantially a vertical position, and then the maximum diameter begins to gradually travel downwardly, starting with the position shown in Fig# ure 9*. yBy the time the eccentric or element, |25 has reached `the position shown in Figure 8*, the yarn clamp, still closed, has4 reached the maximum laterally shifted and raised position, and the clamp has almost completely pulled thecut section -ofyarn from within the fabric, the complete removal beingeifected by the lateral movementof' the clamp andby the i'ed movement of the work, Figures 9* and 10* and 11*. Before and after being thus' pulled from the fabric, this cut section of yarn'is still held between the jaws |02 and Las both jaws are' still in theV laterally shifted or outer position. 'When the jaws |02 and' move laterally and upwardly, due to the swinging action of the arm Il the latch extension |00 engaged behindthe shoulder I2, and is also capable of moving outwardly beyond the same within limits. The cut and removed section of yarn which was thus pulled from the fabric, must be released by the yarn clamping device, so that it may be removed from the presence of the fabric by the suction pipe |28; As stated, the maximum diameter of the clamp controlling element or cam 25 is at a substantially vertical position in Figure 8* and then swings downwardly toward the horizontal position, until substantially the horizontal position is reached, Figure 13%', While this occurs, the still closed yarn clamp swings inwardly and downwardly, with, extension |06 behind the shoulder I I2, but the clamp does not begin to open to release the cut section of yarn until the element or eccentric |25 is in about the position shown in Figure 12*, the jaw 96 then moving away from the jaw |02, which is now latched in the outer position. Starting with Figure 12*, the needle bar controlling disk pr element 82 now holds the needle bar raised so that the spacing stitching cycles are performed. Nine'of these cycles occur until the parts assume the position shown vin Figure-192 and after this position is reached, one more spacing 4cycle will return the parts to the positions shown inl Figure 1* torepeat the sewing cycle. -'l'he yarn clamp has started `to open inFlgure 12*, and thisf opening movement increases as the maximum diameter of the eccentrical element |25 travels from the horizontal toward the lower vertical position, un-

' til the maximum opening movement is obtained,

Figure 17*, at which time the arm 93 has moved downwardly suiiiciently'to engageand depress pin ||4 of latch |08 and the extension I 06 will clear vthe shoulder I|2 and spring pressed jaw |02 will .return to the closed position, Figure 17", and the free endof the yarn is again held between these jaws during the remainder of the spacing cycles lof operation of the needle. The eccentrical'element |25 continues to turn until its maximum diameter approaches the horizontal position to the left, Figures 18* and 19*, and finally reaches illustration, it being understood the Figures 1* to 19* inclusive are largely diagrammatic for the purpose of illustration. Y

It is to be understood that the form of my invention is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes mthe shape,

size, and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to, vwithout departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subioined claims.

Havingjthus described my' invention, lI claim; 1. In a tuiting mechanism, a tufting sewing machine comprising a reciprocatory needle and work feeding means, means to reciprocate the4 needle and then hold the needle elevated to prevent reciprocation, a yarn gripper, and means to actuate the yarn gripper so that it grips the yarn during the reciprocatory movement of the needle receive the yarn,

yarn gripper so that it grips the yarn during the reciprocatory movement of ythe needle and reand means to move the yarn gripper with relation to the needle to aid in pulling the yarn from the fabric. v

3. In a tufting mechanism, a tufting sewing machine comprising a reciprocatory needle to pass the yarn through the fabric to produce loops and work feed means, `a yarn gripper,`means to throw the yarn gripper into action to grip the yarn prior to and during the sewing action of the needle, means to actuate the yarn gripper4 to release the yarn during the idling of theneedle. and means to reciprocate the needle to effect the loop sewing operation and to subsequently hold the needle against reciprocatory movement.

4. In a tufting` mechanism, a tufting sewing machine comprising a reciprocatory needle to pass the yarn through the fabric to produce loops and work feedv means, means to reciprocate the needle to effect the sewing operation and sub' sequently hold the needle against reciprocatory movement, a yarn gripper to pull the cut yarn from the fabric, means to cause the yarn gripper to grip the yarn during the sewing operation of the needle and to release the yarn when the needleis held against reciprocatory movement,-

and means to remove the cut yarn pulled from the fabric from the presence of the fabric.

5. In a tufting mechanism, a tufting sewing machine comprising work feed means, means todrive the work feed means to feed the work, a reciprocatory needle and a presser foot bar, means to reciprocate the needle and hold the same elevated while the work feed means is operating to feed the work, a yarn clamp bodily mounted upon the presser foot bar, means to actuate the yarn` clamp to cause the same to automatically hold and release the yarn.

6. In a tufting mechanism, a tufting sewing machine comprising a reciprocatory needle bar, a spring to move the needle vbar in one direction, a block slidable upon the needle bar to move it a direction in opposition to the spring, va drive shaft having means to move the block, work feed means to'cooperate with the needle bar, a yarn clamp operating near the needle bar, a shaft driven by the drive shaft, 'a needle bar control element mounted upon the second shaft, and a yarn clamp control cam mounted upon the second shaft.

7. In a. tufting mechanism, a. tufting sewing machine comprising a reciprocatory needle to means to reciprocate the needle and subsequently hold it against reciprocatory movement, a yarn clamp comprising a pair of pivoted jaws adaptedto be swung in one direction as a unit, a spring to swing one jaw toward the other and both between the pivoted yoke and one pivoted jaw, a

cam to move the yoke, a latch device to hold one jaws in the same direction as a unit, a pivoted yoke, driving connecting means means to actuate the latch device for releasing the jaw.

v8. In a tufting mechanism, a tufting sewing machine comprising a reciprocatory needle, means to reciprocate the needle and then hold it elevated, a yarn clamp arranged near the path of travel of the needle and shiftable transversely of the line of work, said clamp comprising a pair of jaws having meeting faces, and a tapered pin carried by one jaw and adapted to extend acrossv the meeting faces of said jaws.

9. In a tufting machine for producing spaced lol tufts, a sewing machine comprising work feed means, a reciprocatory needle bar having a needle, a looper to co-act with the needle, means to sever the loops upon the looper, means to,drive the needle forvproducing a tuft and then cause the needle to idle for producing a space, a yarn-gripper having gripping engagement with the yarn throughout the complete driving action of" the needle, and means to actuate the yarn gripper so that it releases the yarn after the completion of the driving action of the needle and at substantially the starting of the idlingof the needle.

10. In a tufting mechanism, la tufting sewing machine including work feed means, a reciprocatory needle bar, means to reciprocate the needle bar and to cause the same'to idle, a ya rn gripper -comprising a pivoted bell-crank lever, a jaw carried by the bell-crank lever, a co-acting pivoted lever having a. jaw arranged opposite the rst named jaw and provided with an extension, a spring to move thesecondnamed lever towards the jaw of the bell-crank lever, a spring actuated 'latch for detachable engagement with the extension of the lever, said latch having a part to be engaged and shifted by the bell-crank lever, and means to move the bell-crank lever,

, 11. In a tufting mechanism, a tufting sewing machine including work feed means, a reciprocatory needle bar, means to reciprocate :the needle bar and to cause the same to idle, a yarn gripper comprising a pivoted bell-crank lever, a jaw carried by the bell-crank lever, a co-acting pivoted lever having a jaw arranged opposite the first named jaw and provided with an extension, a. spring to move the second named lever towards the jaw of the bell-crank lever, a spring actuated latch for detachable engagement with the extension of the lever, said latch having a part-to be g engaged and shifted by the' bell-crank lever, a

pivoted yoke, connecting means between the piv-v oted yoke and the bell-crank lever, and an eccentric operating within the pivoted yoke to actuate the same.

12. In a. tufting machine, a needle movable to "a position to pass through lthe fabric and to a `remote position from the fabric, means to 'move the needle to the remote position, yielding means to move the needle to the position to pass the same through the fabric, means to hold the needie in the. remote position in opposition to the yielding means, work-feeding means, means to 'drive the work-feeding means to feed the work when the needle is operating to produce the loops and when it isheld in the remote position, means co-acting with the needle to produce loops, means to sever the' loops, and a gripper to grip the yarn and remove severed portions thereof. f

.ROBERT H. Bnanwrm. 

